Electricity Privatisation

Mr. Morgan
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost of the advertising campaign for the flotation at the 12 regional electricity companies of England and Wales.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
The costs of the campaign are still being finalised and will be announced to Parliament in the normal manner as soon as they are available.

Mr. Morgan
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date estimate of the cost of the advertising campaign for the flotation of the two generating companies.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
The full costs of the privatisation, including advertising costs, will be made available to Parliament in the normal way.

Mr. Morgan
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what policy considerations led him to reject institutional tendering as a method of flotation for the two generating companies in the electricity supply industry of England and Wales;

(2) what policy considerations led him to choose a public offer flotation for the two generating companies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
Decisions have yet to be taken on the precise structure of the sale of National Power and PowerGen. In intend to float both companies next February, subject to market conditions.

Mr. Morgan
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 13 December, what numbers of employees applied for shares under employee priority application procedures, in each of the 12 regional electricity company areas.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
The numbers of employees who applied under the employee priority offers are as follows: ---------------------------
|                         |
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|Eastern Electricity      |
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|East Midlands Electricity|
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|London Electricity       |
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|Manweb                   |
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|Midlands Electricity     |
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|Northern Electric        |
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|NORWEB                   |
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|SEEBOARD                 |
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|Southern Electric        |
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|South Wales Electricity  |
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|South Western Electricity|
---------------------------
|Yorkshire Electricity    |
---------------------------
These figures exclude employees who have applied under the free and matching offers alone.